The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced this weekend that all airport courtesy escorts, including those customarily provided to Members of Congress, have been suspended as the Democrat majority continues to hold Homeland Security funding hostage in the ongoing government shutdown.

The controversial shutdown, now entering its second week, stems from Democrats’ refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless sweeping changes are made to immigration enforcement policies following earlier clashes over Border Patrol conduct and ICE procedures.

With DHS lacking full appropriations since Feb. 14, the agency has begun scaling back non-essential operations in order to redirect ever-dwindling funds to core missions.

Among those measures, TSA has halted courtesy and special-privilege escorts, the familiar security details that assist lawmakers and VIPs through airports, so that agents can be reassigned to what officials are calling “the mission of securing America’s skies.”

“At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public. As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.

Courtesy escorts, such as those for Members of Congress, have been suspended to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies.”

Courtesy escorts, such as those for Members of Congress, have been suspended to allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies.

According to DHS, the suspension is a necessary reallocation of manpower and resources while the shutdown drags on.

After a week of being shutdown by Congressional Democrats, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it must take emergency measures to preserve limited funds and personnel to mitigate the national security and public safety damage at the hands of Congressional Democrats.

The Democrats’ decision to put politics over public safety, for a third time this Congress, has forced the Department to direct its components to take the following measures effective at 6 AM ET, February 22, 2026:

Source: The Gateway Pundit